Pak cricketer crosses the line, displays provocative gesture during Super Four match against India; video

DUBAI: Pakistan pacer Haris Rauf has drawn criticism after making a controversial gesture aimed at Indian fans during his team’s Super 4 defeat against India in the Asia Cup. While tempers often flare in high-stakes India–Pakistan encounters, many felt Rauf’s actions went beyond acceptable sporting behaviour. The incident took place when Rauf was fielding near the boundary line.

During the match, a group of Indian supporters began chanting “Kohli,” a reminder of Virat Kohli’s unforgettable innings in the 2022 T20 World Cup. In that match, Kohli had struck two sixes off Rauf in the penultimate over, steering India to a dramatic victory. Irritated by the chants, Rauf turned towards the crowd and made a ‘6-0’ hand gesture, followed by a motion mimicking a plane crashing down.

The gesture was seen as a reference to Pakistan’s unsubstantiated claim that its military had shot down six Indian fighter jets during “Operation Sindoor.”

This was not the first time the ‘6-0’ gesture sparked controversy. Ahead of the India–Pakistan clash, Pakistani players were seen shouting “6-0, 6-0” during a training session at the ICC Academy. Although the chant initially referred to a football scoreline during a practice game, its repetition in front of Indian journalists led to suspicions of a deeper, politically charged meaning.

Former Pakistani cricketers have frequently urged that politics be kept separate from sport. However, critics argue that the on-field conduct of players like Haris Rauf reveals underlying tensions that blur the line between the two. Despite suffering back-to-back defeats against India in the Asia Cup, Pakistan still remains in contention for the final. If both teams advance, another highly charged India–Pakistan clash could be on the cards.

Haris Rauf never disappoints, specially with 6-0. pic.twitter.com/vsfKKt1SPZ

— Ihtisham Ul Haq (@iihtishamm) September 21, 2025